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EEPORT OF CApf^ALMY, U.S.N. 




V/ASH\5^^^;X^ United States Steamer "Fulton." 

:^z::z^ "j Norfolk, Va. Sept. 2bth, 1858. 

Sir : — 

I hereby acknowledge the receipt of your communica- 
tion, dated the 18th inst., desiring me to report to you upon the 
following inquiries in regard to Chiriqui Lagoon, which I do ac- 
cordingly, to the best of my knowledge and abihties, after 
spending nearly a month there while in command of this 
steamer. 

Is the Chiriqui Lagoon a proper harbor for vessels of the 
largest class f 

It is decidedly so, and an unlimited number can be anchored 
there at any and all times in perfect safety. 

How many entrances are there to it, and are they easy of 
access — deep and capable of protection by any land works 
which could be readily thrown up ? 

There are three entrances into Chiriqui Lagoon from the 
sea : Boca del Toro, the centre ; Boca del Drago, the western 
and Tiger Channel, the eastern. All are easy of access — deep, 
and capable of protection by land-works which could be 
thrown up. 

Boca del Drago, or "Bogueo Mouth," as it is called by the 
inhabitants there, has the deepest channel and the easiest en- 
trance for the heaviest class of vessels, such as line of battle 
ships. Much information and assistance can be obtained in 
answer to the|ftwo preceding questions by reference to the ad- 
mirable chart from the survey of Captain Edward Barnett, 
R. N., and published by the English Admirality, which charts 



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are easily obtained. There are good pilots to be had at the 
settlements of "Isabel," situated on the southeastern point of 
Columbus Islands, which village contains 100 houses, and 
about 1,000 inhabitants. But upon the different islands and 
shores of the Lagoon it is estimated that there are about 1,700 
inhabitants altogether. 

Are the islands {particularly Popes Island), such as 
would form a good Naval Depot, and could arrange- 
ments readily he made to procure a supply of timher for 
repairs and construction ? 

A Naval Depot could be formed at Pope's Island, but whether 
it would be a good one I am not prepared to say. I should have 
to give it a further examination, and witness the effects of a 
gale of wind there. As a general thing, the water shallows out 
quite far all around this island, and the bottom is uneven with 
lumps. But the most secure and best sheltered harbor, feasible 
for wharves, docks, etc., in Chiriqui Lagoon for a Naval Depot, 
is Shepherd's Harbor, where there is a coal mine also as well as 
at Pope's Island. 

In regard to arrangements being readily made to procure a 
supply of timber for repairs and construction, I am unable to 
say. There is an immense quantity of timber, and variety of 
woods growing throughout the shores of the Lagoon and vicinity ; 
but whether it is fit material for large vessels, such as ships and 
steamers, I have had no means of ascertaining. I don't think 
that any of it has yet been tried, except upon a small scale. 
The settlers have built a few small craft — boats and canoes — 
which they state answer all their purposes, and stand wear and 
tear of service, very well. 

Are there good supplies of fresh water, and readily oh- 
tainable ? 

There are several streams and springs about the Lagoon, and 
there was no difficulty in procuring plenty of fresh water at all 
times for the "Fulton." The watering facilities might be much 
improved, and doubtless would be, if there was a greater de- 
mand for water to supply vessels. 



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Are there abundant swpplies of turtle^ fish, and fruity 
and at reasonable prices ? 

When the Fulton was there — which was in November and 
December — there was an abundance of the finest large turtle, 
and also of the most luscious oranges that I ever ate, and at 
very moderate prices. There is also plenty of fish, requiring 
only implements, and persons skilled in it to catch them. 

Are there coal veins or deposites on Papers Island and 
07i the main shore ? 

There is a coal mine on Pope's Island ; one at a locality call- 
ed "Secretary, on the main land ; one in the vicinity of Shep- 
herd's Harbor ; and one on the main land, west side of Alminante 
Bay, which it was stated produced the best quality of coal of 
any of the mines. At the first two named places, I obtained 
specimens of the coal which were tried and experimented upon, 
both on board of this vessel and the United States steam frigate 
<^ Wabash." 

Is there within your hnowledge any road or opening 
of a road across from the Lagoon to the Pacific ? and if 
€0, do you ccmsider it a good route f 

I have never travelled over nor seen this road ; but while in 
Chiriqui Lagoon, I was informed that a horse-back road had 
been completed between there and the port of San Pedro, on 
the Pacific, which road could be easily widened into one for 
carriages ; and also heard from various authentic sources that 
the route is a very healthy one, which I have every reason to 
believe is the case. 

Have you obtained any information as to the harbor on 
i^ie Pacific side ? 

I have no personal knowledge of it, never having been there. 



Gould coal he trans'poried over the opening hehoeeh tJie 
Lagoon and the Pacific^ so as to give a supply for naval 
purposes at the Pacific Harhor ? 

It could not in the present condition of the road ; nor could 
it be done unless a railroad was constructed entirely across. 

Has the engineer of the ^^ Fidton,'' Mr. Neivell^ made 
any experiments vnth coal obtained from the vicinity of 
the Lagoon^ and if so^ he loill please ansioer the follow- 
ing questions ? 

Mr. Newell did make a trial with a small quantity of coal, 
obtained from the mines of "Pope's Island" and "Secretary," 
and makes the accompanying explanations and answers to 
questions in the paper hereunto annexed. 

I will take this occasion, w^hich I do not deem out of place, 
to remark that the importance of Chiriqui Lagoon in a national, 
naval, and maritime point of view generally, cannot be over 
estimated in the eyes of any nation aiming at ascendancy in 
the Central American States. It is situated just half way 
between Aspinwall and San Juan del Norte (or Greytown), and 
possesses comparatively a healthy climate. From my answers 
to the preceding questions, and from a glance at the chart, it 
will be seen that it possesses very many of the requisites for a 
great naval station, and any maritime nation even of limited 
power, once obtaining a foothold there, would make her influ- 
ence decidedly felt in that quarter. 

It is the opinion of all intelligent persons who have visited 
the coal mines upon the shores of Chiriqui Lagoon, that if pro- 
perly "tapped," shafts sunk and worked as coal mines are in 
the United States, that there will be found an abundance of 
coal of a superior quality, the value of which in that part of 
the w^orld, under circumstances which may often arise, is beyond 
any calculation. 

The lands of the Province of Chiriqui are very fertile, and 
upon the high lands back, half-way between the Lagoon and 
the Pacific, are to be found the best cattle and beef in New 



Granada and Central America. The people are liberal in their 
feelings and ideas — more so than those of the other provinces 
around them — and invite settlers from the United States to come 
among them — will give them lands provided they come quietly 
as agriculturists and farmers to locate there, in which they extend 
all friendly encouragement. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

John J. Almy, U. S. N., 
Lieut. Commanding U. S. Steamer FuUon. 

Hon. Isaac Toucey, 

Secretary of the Navy. 



United States Steamer Fui.ton, 
Norfolk, Sept. 2ith, 1858. 

Sir:— 

In reply to the questions asked by the Hon. Secretary 
of the Navy relative to the coal in Chiriqui Lagoon, I have to 
answer that the tests made of this coal on board of this ship 
"were very limited, and not extensive enough to enable me to 
answer on the questions proposed. 

Question \st. — Is it bituminous or semi-bituminous, or is it a 
lignite and not a pure coal ? 

Answer. — I think it is semi-bituminous, and a pure coal. 

Question 2a?. — How many pounds of water can be evaporated 
by one pound of this coal, estimating the best anthracite to 
evaporate 10 lbs. of water to 1 lb. of coal ? 

jinswer. — I made no experiments to determine its evapora- 
tive qualities. 

Question 3d. — Does it clinker on the grate bars, and is the 
quantity of ashes great or otherwise ? 

Answer. — There being no auxiliary boiler on board, and the 
quantity of coal procured not being sufficient to try it in the 
large boiler, I am unable to answer this question. 



Question Ath. — How does its specific gravity compare with 
anthracite or Curaberlaiid coal ? 

Jinswtr^ — I made no test of its specific gravity. 

Question bth. — Wouhl it be subject to spontaneous combus- 
tion on account of sulphur or iron pyrites being incorporated 
with it ? 

Jinswer. — I discovered no sulphur or iron pyrites in it, and 
do not think it would be subject to spontaneous combustion. 

Question ^th, — Would it break up into fine particles by 
twice handling? 

Answer. — I do not think that it would. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. Newell, 

1*^ Assistant Engineer, United States Navy* 

Lieut. J. J. Almy, 

Gnnmanding U. S. S. Fulton, Norfolk Navy Yard. 



[Copy,] 

U. S. Steam Frigate Wabash, 

Aspinwall, Dec. SOth, 1857. 
Sir :— 

In compliance with your directions, I have this day made 
an examination by practical test of the coal brought me by the 
steamer Fulton, from Balas del Toro. 

There was only about five hundred pounds in all, yet suffi- 
cient to try in auxiliary boiler and the forces, and to form a fair 
idea of its quality. 

This coal was taken from the surface, the mine not having 
been penetrated more than sixteen inches, and although its 
vitality has been nearly destroyed by the rains for many years, 



its combustion was tolerably good, producing steam as well as 
some of our own coal. 

It is bituminous, and evidently from a superior variety, similar 
to the Indiana Cannel. I have no doubt of the superiority of 
the mine. 

Respectfully, 

Your ob't. Serv't. 

(Signed) J- W. King 

Chief Engineer, 



Commodore H. Paulding, 

Commd'g. Home Squadron. 



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